Knife sharpener



J 1950 UL. MARCANTONIO v 2,495,814

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed Dec. 15, 1947 Istwentor Patented Jan. 31, 1950UNITED STATES PATE N-r KNIFE SHARFENER Daniel L. Marcantonio, Westport',Conn., assignor to The Rayflex Company, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn,a corporation ofConnecticut Application December 13, 1947, Serial No.791,579

This invention relates to a knife sharpener, particularly of the type inwhich there are two or more overlapping hard steel discs across whichthe edge of the blade is drawn in the sharpening operation, and has foran object to provide an 7 removed and a new one inserted independentlyof the other discs.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention isnot limited to the specific details of construction and arrangementshown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scopeof the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away to more clearly shOWthe construction;

a Fig. 3 is a bottom view partly broken away to more clearly show theconstruction, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections substantially-on lines 44 and 55respectively of Fig. -2.

The device illustrated comprises a body or housin In preferably moldedof some suitable plastic material in which is mounted a plurality ofhard steel sharpening discs H and I2. The body In includes'an uprightportion l3 provided with laterally spaced upright side walls l4 and I5,and adjacent one end is provided with a trans verse recess or channel I6extending downwardly from the top wall and opening through the lateralside walls l4 and I5, and preferably curved at the opposite sides of theentrance, as indicated at H, to facilitate and guide entrance of theknife to the sharpening position. Between this recess and the oppositeend of the body the upright side walls I4 and I5 are provided withupright alternate curved ribs l8 and channels [9 forming a finger gripfor the device to hold it stationary during the sharpening operation,particularly if the device is not fastened to some support. However, thebody is provided on its opposite lower edges with outwardlyextendingflanges 20 to give a more extended supporting base and also to:provide means whereby the devicemay be 6 Claims. (Cl. 7687) mounted ona table or other suitable support by any suitable means, such, forexample, as screws (not shown) passing through suitable opening 2i inthese flanges.

The body member is molded hollow with-a chamber 22 opening through thbottom of the body, which makes it of lighter weight and 're quires lessmaterial, and the body is also provided with a plurality of narrowlaterally spaced upright pockets 23 and 24 extending longitudinally ofthe body, or that is transversely to the recess 16, these pockets beinglocated on opposit sides of the recess l6 and opening through the sidewalls of this recess. These pockets also extend through the lower sideof the body for insertion of the steel sharpener discs II and [2. Thesediscs are of the usual form, which are ordinarily circular, flat, veryhard steel discs with sharp side edges, and the pockets 23 and 24 are solocated that when the discs are in the pocket they project at one edgeinto the recess IS with adjacent discs II and I2 overlapped at theiredges in this recess, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide the usualV-shaped notch or space 25 between them for the edge of a knife bladewhen it is drawn across these discs during the sharpening operation. Oneor more discs may be employed as found desirable, and the discs whenassembled in the body are laterally spaced and separated by the dividingwalls 26 of the molded material between the respective pockets 23 or 24in which the discs are mounted.

The chamber 22 within the body is somewhat narrower under the pockets 23and 24, as indi cated at 21, and in the side walls of this narrowedportion there are formed longitudinal channels 28 in which is mounted agate or closure strip 29. This may be a strip of metal of suitable gaugeor thickness guided at its opposite edges in the channels 28 forlongitudinal sliding movement to and from a position over the entrancesto the pockets 23 and-Hand under the lower edges of the sharpener discsII and I2, as indicated in Figs. 2 and l, to retain these discs in thepockets. It may be retracted to the left or dotted line position, asshown in-dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, to uncover the discs and permitready removal or insertion of the discs in the pockets, and tofacilitate this operation the free end may be bent downwardly, asindicated at 3|], and provided with an opening 3|. Also to facilitateinsertion of the retainer or closure 29 the side Walls of the chamber=22 in the body" may be brought up even with the lower edges of thechannels 28,.at'their .entrances;-..to .forin a .5110111- der 32 at theentrances to these channels and another shoulder 33 at its opposite endto support the free end of the closure slide 29.

In manufacture, the body member is molded in one piece of a suitableplastic material with the recess I6 and the pockets 23, 24 molded in it,these pockets being preferably separated by the division walls 26 alsomolded in one piece with the body, to form separating means between thediscs, although if found desirable the pockets could be molded as asingle pocket and the discs separated by spacing discs or washers.

In assembling the device, the body is merely placed in an invertedposition and the individual sharpening discs I l and I2 dropped into thepockets 23 and 24 from the lower side. They automatically seatthemselves on the tops of these pockets and are properly spaced by thedivision or spacing walls 26. They are also automatically placed withthe side edge of each disc projecting into the recess 18 and overlappingthe edge of an adjacent disc projecting into the recess from theopposite side of this recess. Then after the discs have been placed inthe pockets the slide or closure 29 is slid to the right as viewed inFigs. 2 and 3 with its edges in the grooves 28 to a position under thelower edges of the discs I l and I2, as shown in full lines Fig. 2, tothus retain these discs in the pockets. It will be seen that this is avery simple assembling operation, and with this arrangement it is notnecessary to connect the discs together. They are each individuallydropped into their respective pockets which automatically locates themin proper position and then the slide or closure 29 slid into its normalholding position. If for any reason it is desired to remove one or morediscs or to replace them, all that is necessary is to slide the closure29 to the left, as indicated in dotted lines, Figs. 2 and 3, to releasethe discs. To facilitate insertion of the slide 29 during the assemblingoperation after the discs have been placed in their respective pockets,the shoulder 32 is located at the entrances to the guide grooves 28 andon a level with the top walls of these grooves,

so that all that is necessary is to merely place the free end of theslide 29 on this shoulder 32 and slide it into the channels or grooves28, this shoulder 32 guiding it into these channels. In

use, the alternate curved ribs and grooves 18 and I9 form effectiveseats for the fingers of the operator and provide a very comfortable andeffective grip for holding the device stationary in the operation ofsharpening a knife in the event the device is not fastened to somesupport.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A knife sharpener comprising an integral body provided with atransverse recess extending through its top and side walls, said bodybeing provided with a plurality of narrow laterally spaced pocketsopening into said recess from the opposite sides thereof and formed inthe material of the body so that the side walls of the pockets areformed integral with the body and of the same material as the body, saidpockets also opening through the bottom of the body to form entranceopenings to permit insertion of separate sharpener discs into saidpockets from the bottom of the body, separate unmounted sharpener discslocated one in each of said pockets and extending at one edge into therecess in overlapped relation with discs on the opposite side of therecess, the side walls of the pockets also forming the lateralsupporting and positioning means for the discs, and retaining meanslocated over the lower entrance to the pockets to retain the discs inthese pockets.

2. A knife sharpener comprising an elongated body member provided with atransverse recess extending through its top and side walls, said bodybeing provided with upright laterally spaced pockets on the oppositesides of said recess and opening into said recess, said pockets beingformed in the material of the body so that they are separated by thindivision walls integral with the body and of the same material as thebody, said pockets being also open at the lower side of the body forinsertion of sharpener discs in said pockets, separate unmountedsharpener discs located one in each of said pockets and each extendingat one edge into the recess in overlapped relation with a disc extendinginto the recess from the opposite side thereof, the side walls of thepockets also forming the lateral support and positioning means for thediscs, and means over the open lower sides of the pockets retaining thediscs in the pockets.

3. A knife sharpener comprising an integral elongated body memberprovided with a transverse recess opening through its top and sidewalls, said body also provided with a plurality of laterally spacedupright narrow pockets on the opposite sides of the recess and openingthrough the sides of said recess, thin division walls integral with thebody separating said pockets, and said pockets being also open at thelower side of the body for the insertion of sharpener discs into saidpockets, separate unmounted sharpener discs located one in each pocketand each extending at one edge into the recess in overlapped relationwith a disc extending into the recess from its opposite side, andretaining means over the open lower sides of the pockets retaining thediscs in the pockets.

4. A knife sharpener comprising an elongated integral body memberprovided with a transverse recess opening through its top and sideWalls, said body being provided with upright pockets on the oppositesides of said recess and opening into said recess, said pockets beingalso open at the lower side of the body for insertion of sharpener discsin said pockets and having sid walls integral with the body, separatesharpener discs located in said pockets and each extending at one edgeinto the recess in overlapped relation with a disc extending into therecess from the opposite side thereof, guide means in th lower part ofthe body, and a slide slidable in said guide means to a position overthe entrances to said pockets to retain the discs therein.

5. A knife sharpener comprising an integral elongated body provided witha transverse recess opening through its top and side walls, said bodybeing provided with upright pockets on the opposite sides of said recessand opening into said recess, said pockets being also open at the lowerside of the body for insertion of sharpener discs in said pockets,sharpener discs located one in each of said pockets and each extendingat one edge into the recess in overlapped relation with a disc extendinginto the recess from the opposite side of the recess, the body beingprovided with longitudinal guide grooves in the lower part thereof belowand on opposite sides of the en trances to said pockets, a slide plateguided at its opposite edges in said grooves and shiftable to a positionover the entrances to said pockets to retain the discs in the pockets,and a shoulder at the entrances to said grooves and on a level 5 withthe upper edge of the grooves to guide the free endPofthe slide plateinto; said grooves.

6. A :knife sharpener comprising an integral body provided with atransverse recess opening through its top wall and also 'opening throughthe sides of the body, said body being provided with at least oneupright narrow pocket opening into said recess from each side thereofand also opening through the bottom of th body to form an entrance tothe pocket to permit the insertion of a loose unmounted sharpener discinto said pocket, a sharpener disc located in each pocket and extendingat one edge into the recess where it is exposed for sharpening a knifeblade, the'sides of the pocketbeing integral with the body and formingsole means holding the disc in upright position, and retaining meanslocated 6 over the entrance to the pocket retaining the disc in thepocket.

DANIEL L. MARCANTONIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 343,852 Reinhold June 15. 18862,426,934 Jones Sept. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date329,546 Great Britain May 22, 1930

